More abortions units 'set to open'

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The Government has been trying to find ways to make it easier for women under nine weeks pregnant to gain access to early abortions.

The procedure, known as early medical abortion (EMA), involves two trips to a clinic, hours or a day apart, to take pills which induce miscarriage.

Providers of EMA argue that women should be allowed to take the second pill at home after receiving medical instructions.

Data uncovered by GP newspaper suggests more units are set to open in England that will provide EMA in a GP surgery or polyclinic.

At present, the law states the pills can only be administered at licensed sites, such as hospitals, approved NHS providers and private clinics. However, the Health Secretary has the power to change this and primary care trusts (PCTs) could apply for their GPs or other staff to be able to perform abortions, for example in GP surgeries.

But even without the use of the Health Secretary's powers, private clinics can use the existing law to work with GPs and offer EMA in GP surgeries.

A spokeswoman for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) said it already runs one abortion clinic within a GP surgery in Wolverhampton. The charity, which acts as an independent provider performing abortions for NHS patients under a contract with the PCT, has also received approval to run another clinic in a GP surgery in Newcastle.

The BPAS spokeswoman said the charity was also aware of a few community hospitals who were interested in providing early medical abortions.

A pilot scheme for the Government found that none of 172 women who underwent nurse-supervised terminations in a GP surgery suffered any complications or safety problems.